Kite



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, April 25, I967 KITE '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1965 HA POL D .L. HUL L INVENTOR M 7 ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967 H. L. HULL KITE Filed March 22, 1965 Rea N 20 2 SheetsSheet 2 HAROLD L. HULL IN VE N TOR Worm 14 TTORNE'KS United States Patent Cfifice 3,315,922 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 ove and Hamid L. Hull gr Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 4, 11,666

1 @laim. (Cl. 244-153) The present invention relates to a kite and more particularly to a kite which may be alternat1vely conveniently formed into a compact package for storage or carrying and expanded into an aerodynamic shape for flight, said kite having resiliently flexible lateral portions allowing versatile and controllable maneuverability in flight.

In the past, kites have taken many shapes but have typically comprised rigid aerodynamic structures having fixed air-resistant surfaces or elements. Such fixed elements are inconvenient to assemble and disassemble. In flight the fixed elements and surfaces are not well adapted to allow variable and versatile maneuverability. For instance, conventional kites are not adapted to perform in a manner characteristic of other types of aircraft, such as a glider. Also, kites have not previously had adiustable features allowing them automatically to adapt their aerodynamic configuration to the variable air currents and wind velocities. In addition, previous kites have usually been of such fragile construction that their rigid characteristics rendered them vulnerable to damage or destruction upon jarring contact with a solid surface.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kite which may be alternatively conveniently formed into a compact package for storage or carrying and expanded into a suitable aerodynamic shape for flight.

Another object is to provide such a kite which may be rolled into its own fabric to form a compact package.

Another object is to provide such a kite which automatically assumes its expanded shape upon unwrapping from its compact package.

Another object is to provide such a kite having resiliently flexible lateral portions which provide variable air-resistant surfaces in automatic response to varying air currents.

Another object is to provide such a kite which may be put through variable and versatile maneuvers by control from a remote station.

Another object is to provide such a kite which may function as a glider upon suitably controlled manipulation.

Another object is to provide such a kite which when functioning as a glider can be made to fly either laterally of or away from the remote control station.

Another object is to provide such a kite having resilient structural elements which render it substantially invulnerable to damage or destruction upon jarring contact with the ground.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent upon reference to the description in the specification and the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a kite embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in flight of the kite shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in a plane indicated by line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken in a plane indicated by line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a spring clip which connects a central rib between lateral ribs in the kite of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section takenin a plane indicated by line 6-d in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clip utilized in the kite of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ribs shown in FIG. 5 with the clip removed to show rib grooves.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a kite of the present invention with its ribs folded and wrapped in an air-resistant material or fabric of the kite.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings:

An assembled kite ready for flight and embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It includes a sheet 10 of air-impervious or airresistant fabric or material, preferably a lightweight gossamer plastic. The sheet may have any suitable symmetrical geometrical shape; however, in the embodiment described it forms substantially -a quadrilateral polygon having an axis of symmetry 11, lower and upper sections 12 and 13, respectively, an upper extremity 14, front and rear surfaces 15 and 16, respectively, and opposite lateral edges 19.

The opposite lateral edges 19 of the upper portion 13 of the sheet 10 are secured respectively to a pairof lateral ribs 20 preferably by wrapping each edge about its corresponding rib, as shown in FIG. 4. Any suitable means may be utilized to secure the edges to the ribs, such as by staples or adhesive, not shown. A central rib v21 is disposed at the rear of the sheet along its axis of symmetry 11. The lateral ribs are each disposed at an equal angle 22 with the axis of symmetry, or central rib, the apexes 23 of the angles being coincident and lying on the axis of symmetry proximally of the upper extremity 14 of the sheet. Those portions of the sheet lying between the respective ribs form laterally opposite air-engaging portions or wings 26 which can assume a slack position, as at 26A, and a flight position, as at 26B, both positions being shown in FIG. 3.

A resiliently flexible clip 27, preferably of a spring steel, secures the upper ends 28 of the lateral ribs 20 to the central rib 21, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The clip is conveniently shaped, as shown in FIG. 7, to provide a portion 29 for gripping the central rib and angularly related opposite side portions 30 for gripping the lateral ribs. The ribs are preferably grooved, as shown in FIG. 8, to allow firm seating of the clip. The grooves 33 on the lateral ribs are preferably diagonally related to their respective ribs to give the lateral ribs and wings 26 initially a rearward disposition relative to the central rib such that a dihedral angle 34 is formed between the wings. Such disposition results in increased aerodynamic stability of the kite by the provision of suitable dihedral in the relationship of the wings. The aerodynamic center of the kite, not shown, lies preferably in the upper portion 13 of the kite.

A control string or cord 35 is secured or anchored to each lateral rib 21 above the aerodynamic center of the kite. In addition to their normal control function, these strings may serve to secure the edges 19 of the sheet 10 about the respective lateral ribs. A third cotnrol string 36 is secured or anchored to the central rib 21 below the aerodynamic center of the kite and extends through an aperture in the sheet. All three strings are joined at a point of convergence 37 a suitable distance in front of the kite, preferably in front of the upper portion 13 of the sheet. An elongated control line 40 is attached to the three terminal strings at their point of convergence. For better performance the point of convergence should be approximately in front of the aerodynamic center of the kite. There is no set position for this point, however, since the kite is adapted to perform effectively in various positions of flight, angles of attack, due to its resilient wing structure.

6 Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly sumarized at this point. When the kite is ready for flight or air suspension, it is launched into the air in a typical manner to assume a position in flight, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position it is gradually allowed to ascend in a wind to a desired height above the ground or control station, not shown. The spring clip 27 allows the lateral wings 26 to flex rearwardly in response to the force of air pressure. The clip and the symmetrically arranged terminal control lines 35 and 36 tend to limit the wings in their rearward angular displacement to an equal degree on each side of the kite. For air currents of increased velocity, the angle 34 between the opposite wings may become substantially reduced and thus the kite is allowed to assume a relatively restricted shape having more effective aerodynamic properties relative to the intensity of the air currents. A reduced area of lift is provided to compensate for a greater lift potential because of increased wind velocity.

In it restricted shape the kite assumes certain properties characteristic of a glider due to the nature of its opposite air engaging portions or wings 26. The control lines 35 and 36 and the shape of the kite cooperate to allow more versatile maneuverability of the kite, which may be controlled from the control station. By suitable manipultaion of the control line 40 the kite may be made to make short flights as a glider either rearwardly or laterally. In addition, the kite may be caused to perform other maneuvers in a similar manner.

The resilient structure of the kite is such that upon contact with solid obstacles such as the ground, telephone poles or the like, the sheet slidably repositions itself on the central rib 21 and the lateral ribs flex, as necessary, due to their spring-clip 27 connection to the central rib. As a result, the kite absorbs the impact without damage to any of its individual elements or an absolute minimum of damage thereto. It has been found that after a nose dive into a concrete pavement the kite suifers no damage whatsoever. After impact the kite resiliently resumes its normal shape without the need of inconvenient and time consuming readjustments.

At the completion of the flight, the kite is retrieved in a typical manner. After use, the lateral ribs 20 may be folded against the central rib 21 and the sheet 10 wrapped about all three ribs, as shown in FIG. 9, and secured by a retaining cord or band 41. Thus, the kite is collapsible into a compact package for convenience of carrying or storing. In order to prepare it for subsequent use, it is only necessary to remove the band, unwrap the sheet and allow the kite resiliently to assume its expanded shape for flight.

From the foregoing it is readily apparent that a kite has been provided which is readily and conveniently assembled and disassembled and which allows convenient packaging for storage. The kite is capable of versatile maneuvers under control from a remote station. Its resilient structural features allow it to adapt itself to varying air currents and prevent its damage upon jarring impact with solid surfaces.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A kite comprising a sheet of flexible material sub stantially impervious to air, said sheet having a symmetrical shape, upper and lower portions, and upper extremity, front and rear surfaces, an axis of symmetry passing through said upper extremity, and air engaging portions disposed in laterally opposite relation to said axis of symmetry; an elongated lateral rib member secured to each air engaging portion, said rib members being disposed in symmetrical relation to the axis and in angular relation to each other to form an angle having an apex disposed on the axis proximal to the upper extremity of said sheet; a central rib member disposed at the rear surface of the sheet adjacent to the axis of symmetry, the lower portion of said sheet providing an aperture on the axis of symmetry; a spring wire element connecting said lateral rib members resiliently to the central rib member in said symmetrical relation to the axis; and elongated flexible control means having three terminal elements, one of said terminal elements being connected to the central rib and extending through said aperture, the others of said terminal elements being connected respectively to the lateral rib members, said terminal elements joining at a common point of convergence disposed in front of the upper portion of the sheet and at one end of the elongated control means, said kite being adapted to be held captive in an air current of varying intensity with the air current contacting said front surface of the kite and being controllable by said control means, said spring wire element being shaped to grip the central rib member and the lateral rib members in said angular relation and adapted resiliently and relatively to the axis of symmetry to bias the air engaging portions against said air currents coming into contact with the front surface of the kite but permitting said air engaging portion resiliently to assume positions of varying symmetrical angular relation between each other and the axis of symmetry in response to the intensity of the air currents, and said kite being selectively alternatively collapsible about the central rib portion to form a compact package and expansible to a suspensible shape.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,135 3/1949 Bach 244-153 3,153,877 10/1964 Eflinger et al 244-153 X 3,194,520 7/1965 Kurkjian 244-153 3,198,458 8/1965 Fink 244 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Examiner.

P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

